Includes internal flights, twin shared accommodation, English speaking guides, private cars, sightseeing and meals listed. Excludes visa and travel documents, travel insurance, international flights, local tipping, etc.
This itinerary is to give you a flavor of what is possible. We can tailor this trip to suit your specific needs and expectations. Any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursions to accommodation. Cost above is base on a selection of Deluxe accommodations during the low season period. They can be altered to suit the level of luxury you prefer.
Welcome to Luang Prabang, the cultural capital of Laos!
During your arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to Belmond Residence Phou Vao. Check into their Garden View Suite with private terrace, shaded by tall trees. After a short rest, enjoy a guided orientation in Luang Prabang’s charming old town. Then take a walk along the colorful Night Market to meet friendly Laos people and see local handicrafts on display.
Hotel: Belmond Residence Phou Vao
Day 2: Luang Prabang | Luang Prabang Heritage and Kuang Si Waterfalls
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Rise up early to take part in an ancient custom of Luang Prabang—the Alms Giving. A procession of monks solemnly files past your hotel while participants can place balls of sticky rice into their bowls.
After breakfast, visit the Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings purchased by locals. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou, a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang.
In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. Next, visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.
A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset over the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by the surrounding hill tribes.
Hotel: Belmond Residence Phou Vao
Day 3: Luang Prabang | Boat Trip Along Mekong River & Discover Pak Ou Caves
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, we embark on a cruise up the Mekong River. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the tranquil shores and hills. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make Laos rice wine and rice whiskey. You’ll be able to try some and see the process they use to make it. Then we’ll reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.
Lunch will be served nearby the caves. During lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to try a local dish called “Orlam” which is a soup with vegetables and features a local spicy wood that is edible. On return, we disembark the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its decorative hand weavings.
Hotel: Belmond Residence Phou Vao
Day 4: Luang Prabang | Elephant Village
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, transfer to Elephant Village – an elephant sanctuary with a focus on rehabilitation and care of rescued elephants. Here you’ll meet the camp manager and receive a short briefing about the elephants. Throughout the day, you’ll take place in the following activities:
Riding an elephant – you’ll have the opportunity to ride directly on the neck of an elephant
Mahout Training – learn about the commands of how to communicate to the elephant
Enjoy lunch at the outdoor garden restaurant
Bathe your elephant – Go down to the nearby Nam Khan River to bath your elephant; perhaps the elephant will bathe you as well!
Note: Elephant Village no longer uses Howdahs(Elephant Seats) due to the harm this can cause to the elephants. Moreover, you will have the choice of riding the elephant’s neck or walking alongside the elephant depending on what you prefer.
Then return to your hotel for leisure time.
Hotel: Belmond Residence Phou Vao
Day 5: Luang Prabang | Discover Ethnic Hill Tribes Around Luang Prabang
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Today will be an active day in the countryside and mountains North of Luang Prabang to discover the remote ethnic hill tribe villages. Our first stop is the knife-making village of Hath Hien. We then continue through rice fields to the Khmu village of Bannatan. Here you can observe remote village life. Then continue to Banpohei village where our guide will prepare lunch for you. Continue to the Nam Pa River where you can take some time to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Then transfer by vehicle up further into the mountains where the H’mong reside. Explore their gardens and coffee plantations and get a course from the village shaman on traditional Laos herbs and their medicinal uses. Then return back to Luang Prabang for some leisure time.
Hotel: Belmond Residence Phou Vao
Day 6: Luang Prabang – Phonsavan | Overland to Phonsavan
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Travel overland from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan, through stunning mountain terrain.
After arriving in Phonsavan, continue to Muang Khoun – a town almost completely destroyed by bombs during the Vietnam War with the exception of one lone Buddha statue. Return to Phonsavan to check in at Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel for leisure time.
During the evening, if you would like, visit the UXO Center in town where you can learn about the bombings and remaining unexploded ordinance that locals are dealing with on a regular basis.
Hotel: Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel
Day 7: Phonsavan | Discover the Mysterious Plain of Jars
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Start the morning visiting the local market famous for its colorful variety of local pastries.
Continue out of town to Plain of Jars Site 2 and 3. Estimated at 2,500 years old, hundreds of unique large stone jars are found in the hills near Phonsavan. Then continue to Plain of Jars Site 1 which contains the most jars of any site. The largest is a striking 6 tons and measures over 8 feet(2.5m)! Who built them, why and how were they transported? These questions have remained a mystery.
Then return to your hotel for leisure time.
Hotel: Vansana Plain of Jars Hotel
Day 8: Phonsavan – Vientiane | Fly to Vientiane, City Highlights of Vientiane
Meal: Breakfast
Transfer to airport for onward flight to Vientiane, the current capital city of Laos.
Upon arrival, our tour guide will greet you at the airport and you’ll be escorted to Settha Palace Hotel for check-in.
In the afternoon, visit the well-known ‘Buddha Park’, then return to Vientiane city for some sightseeing and history at the Lao ‘Arc de Triumphe’ and the Phra That Luang Stupa.
Hotel: Settha Palace Hotel
Day 9: Vientiane – Pakse | Fly to Pakse, Explore Ancient Wat Phu Temple
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Fly from Vientiane to Pakse.
Upon arrival, transfer to Champasak where you’ll check in at The River Resort at their River Front Villa with large terrace overlooking Mekong River in panoramic. After a short rest, transfer to Wat Phu – an ancient Angkorian temple. This temple complex is sprawled out from the base of a hill up into the clefts. It is surrounded by beautiful tropical scenery with ancient steps that lead to ancient sanctuaries still used by locals for worship.
Before returning to the resort, you may enjoy taking a stroll around the colonial old town of Champasak. You will discover some lovely French buildings and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere next to the Mekong River.
Hotel: The River Resort Champasak
Day 10: Pakse | Kayaking with Mekong Dolphins and 4,000 Islands
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, transfer to 4,000 Islands. Then board a local boat down the mighty Mekong River and through some beautiful scenery. Our boat ride ends at Don Khon Island. Next, stroll across this small island to see the old French train and the amazing Liphi waterfalls. At the waterfall, we take a short walk to above the falls where we enjoy lunch with the natural scenery. After lunch and some leisure time, go *kayaking down the Mekong to an area near the Cambodian border where we will see some endangered Mekong Dolphins surfacing every few minutes. After spending some time spotting them, we will return back to the resort. The evening is at your leisure.
(* It is an option to go by motor boat on the Mekong river for the Mekong dolphins.)
Hotel: The River Resort Champasak
Day 11: Pakse | Explore the Bolaven Plateau
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, you’ll go to see the Bolevan Plateau. The Bolevan Plateau is known for its cooler temperature being located high above the Mekong Valley. The area is famous for its many waterfalls, and the most beautiful of these is Tad Fan Falls. Tad Fan Falls is spectacular twin cascade plummeting into a deep gorge surrounded by flourishing vegetation. A trip to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be seen en route. During the afternoon we arrive at Pha Suam Waterfall to visit the ethnic minority village of Lao Teung Katu. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel for the evening.
Hotel: The River Resort Champasak
Day 12: Pakse | Departure
Meal: Breakfast
Today our guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight onward and to bid you a fond farewell!
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One of our Travel Experts will reach out to you and assist you with an itinerary and quote. Also, feel free to leave your phone number and we will give you a quick call just to say hello and clarify any questions we have about your inquiry.
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Safety First
Licensed guides and drivers, thru-trip emergency phone with our contacts so you can reach us at the push of a button, vehicles with seatbelts and airbags... - your safety is important to us.
Experience Asia in Comfort
Travel at the pace you want with the comforts you expect. Air conditioned vehicles and rooms, hotels with WIFI, Western toilets and bathrooms.
Price Transparency
We provide the costs up front and in detail so you know where the costs for your trip are coming from.
Speak with a specialist
Submit our inquiry form and someone will contact you by email or phone to start the conversation about your travel plans or questions.
Customize your plans
Your travel consultant will listen to your travel interests and requirements design a draft itinerary. Feel free to make requests and we will let you know about your options and adjust accordingly.
Booking your tour
Once the tour is planned how you like, simply send deposit to reserve the tour and lock in the hotels and rate. Tour Confirmation will be sent with 14 days of deposit. Remainder will be settled 60 days before traveling.
Begin your holiday
Feel free to contact our team for any questions before your big day arrives. We will also contact you during the trip to make sure everything is going smoothly.
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE
It's easier than ever to get going! Request a quote today!
One of our Travel Experts will reach out to you and assist you with an itinerary and quote. Also, feel free to leave your phone number and we will give you a quick call just to say hello and clarify any questions we have about your inquiry.
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